Saturate the World
What if every
Christian believed they’ve been called to full-time ministry?
Authors ask believers
to move beyond Sunday morning Christianity to true missional living
For far too many Christians, the idea of being part of a
church simply means attending a Sunday morning service, maybe a small group or
a sprinkling of special events each year. Is that what God had in mind for his
bride, the Church, when he sent his son to save her? Pastors and church planters
Jeff Vanderstelt, and co-author, Ben Connelly, invite readers to experience
something deeper in their new book, Saturate Field
Guide: Principles & Practices for Being Disciples of Jesus in the Everyday
Stuff of Life (Saturate/February 15, 2016).
Inspired by Habakkuk 2:14, which reads, “For the
earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters
cover the sea,” Vanderstelt and Connelly wrote the Saturate Field Guide to show believers how the gospel permeates
every aspect of their life. This begins with understanding ministry isn’t
just what pastors do on Sundays and discipleship is much more than a class or
program. Instead, both are a 24/7 call to live in absolute submission to the
Lord, joining with others on God’s mission, where each person sees himself or
herself as a servant missionary sent to make disciples.
“This
is not just about being a part of a Bible study,” Vanderstelt explains. “It’s
about engaging in everyday life with a group of believers, who together, are
committed to bringing the experience of Jesus’ rule and reign into a dark world
and proclaim the gospel.” Both authors encourage readers of Saturate Field Guide to imagine their
cities, neighborhoods, schools and workplaces proclaiming the glory of Jesus
through words and gracious deeds so that every man, woman, and child has a
daily encounter with Jesus.
Saturate Field Guide is designed to help readers of all levels of spiritual maturity maintain their eternal perspective and bridge the gap between what they know about God and his mission for them and the mundane realities of everyday life. With an eye toward keeping the gospel at the center of every interaction, the guide is an incredibly practical and engaging manual. Each chapter builds on the next, asking readers to align their heart with the will of God, examine their core beliefs and then launch into a mission where they can put their knowledge into hands-on practice. The 8-week guide offers questions, prayers and exercises designed to create disciples of Jesus Christ who, in turn, make other disciples.
The book, while inspired by Vanderstelt’s 2015 release, Saturate, (Crossway) is a stand-alone resource, intended to be used by both groups and individuals. “No aspect of Christianity is designed to be an individualistic pursuit,” Connelly adds. “The best way to pursue sanctification and discipleship is lock-arms with others, working toward the same things and supporting each other along the way.”
Vanderstelt and Connelly hope Saturate Field Guide affirms the truth that when God’s people commit together to sow gospel seeds in the everyday rhythms of life, the ripple effect will move through their own lives out toward the whole earth, saturating it with the good news of Jesus.
Learn more about more about Saturate at book.wearesaturate.com or on Facebook (SaturateTheWorld) or Twitter (@SaturateWorld).
About
the authors
Jeff Vanderstelt is the
visionary leader of the Soma Family of Churches and the lead teaching pastor of
Doxa Church in Bellevue, Washington. He also travels around the U.S. and the
world equipping the church in the gospel and missional living. Vanderstelt is
the author of Saturate: Being Disciples
of Jesus in the Everyday Stuff of Life.
He
and Jayne, his wife of 22 years, have three children; Haylee, Caleb and Maggie.
Keep up with Jeff Vanderstelt online
at www.jeffvanderstelt.com, on Facebook (SaturateTheWorld), or Twitter (@SaturateWorld).
Ben Connelly started and now co-pastors The City Church, part of the Acts 29
network and Soma Family of Churches. He is also the co-author of A Field Guide for Everyday Mission (Moody Publishers).
With degrees from Baylor University and Dallas Theological Seminary, Connelly
taught public speaking at TCU for six years. He now leads church planting for
the Soma Family in North America, writes for various publications, trains folks
across the country and blogs in spurts.
Connelly, his wife Jess
and their kiddos Charlotte, Maggie and Travis live in Fort Worth, TX.
Keep up with Ben Connelly on his blog benconnelly.net or on Twitter (@connellyben).
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